What to do with a broken Android screen

Many Android phones are a bit more durable than iPhones, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to damage. Phone screens are made of glass, after all, and glass breaks when you drop it. So if you broke your Android device screen once again, how to get it fixed or deal with it. Here are some options for you.

Ask the manufacturer for help

If your Android device is relatively new (read: still under manufacturer’s warranty), the first place you’ll want to go for your phone fix is the manufacturer. The price for a broken screen will vary depending on your device, but for a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge you’re probably looking at around $270 plus a day or two without your device. Going to the manufacturer is almost always going to be more expensive than a third-party repair shop, but your warranty will stay intact and your phone will be fully restored (possibly even replaced with a fully refurbished model) to its pre-broken-screen excellence (and waterproof phones, like the Galaxy S7 Edge, will retain their waterproof status).

Get it fixed by a third-party repair shop

If your Android device is older (out of warranty) or a less popular model, you’ll probably be able to save money by going to a third-party repair shop. I called a few local repair shops in the Los Angeles area and got quotes for between $100 and $250 for a Samsung Galaxy S5 screen replacement.
There are a couple of benefits — aside from price — to using a third-party repair service. If you go to a local repair shop, they’ll be able to fix your phone quickly (some in less than an hour; one local LA shop even offered to come right to my apartment and fix it on the spot), which means you won’t be stuck without a phone. Most third-party repair shops also offer a warranty on the parts they replace, which means you can call them if your replacement screen stops working for any reason (aside from, you know, dropping it and breaking it again).

Some places will also offer a slightly lower price for repairing broken glass (as opposed to broken glass and a broken LCD) — uBreakiFix, for example, charges $180 to repair the glass on an LG G5, and charges $200 to repair the glass and the LCD on the same phone.

All third-party repair shops are not created equal, so here’s what you’ll want to ask before you hand over your device:

How much will it cost?

How long will it take?

What type of warranty do you offer? (Parts and service, or parts only/service only? Limited or lifetime?)

Using a third-party repair service to fix your device’s broken screen will almost certainly void your manufacturer’s warranty, so if your phone is new it’s best to first check out the manufacturer’s quote. Some new phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, are very difficult to repair, so you may find that the manufacturer has a better price than any reputable third-party service.

Deal with it

Assuming your device’s broken screen isn’t drastically interfering with your ability to use your phone, or making your fingers bleed, you may want to just ride out the cracks until you get a new phone (or until it does make your fingers bleed). To make your device last as long as possible, cracks and all, I suggest putting it in a sturdy, shockproof case, because any bumps or drops could cause more damage. If the cracks on the screen cross usable area, you may also want to look into a glass screen protector — to protect your fingers from cuts and to protect your screen from more damage.